Danika Mason Apologizes for Appearing Drunk During Olympic Games Broadcast

The Australian public has been stirred by an incident involving renowned sports presenter Danika Mason, who appeared under the influence of alcohol during a live broadcast from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The Channel Nine journalist struggled noticeably during the morning news segment, having great difficulty pronouncing simple words. The video, in which Mason slurs her words and loses her train of thought, quickly spread across social media, becoming the subject of a nationwide discussion. Ethical standards in the journalism profession require full sobriety in the workplace, and their violation in public media often results in immediate career termination or long-term suspension.On Thursday morning, Danika Mason issued a statement in which she admitted her mistake and expressed deep embarrassment over her behavior. She explained that her condition resulted from a combination of factors: having one drink before going on air, not having eaten dinner, and the effects of the high altitude and low temperatures in the Italian Alps. The presenter emphasized that she "misjudged the situation" and should not have consumed alcohol before work. The case gained such significant attention that even the Prime Minister of Australia commented on it, indicating the high profile of the incident in the context of the national media's image. Channel Nine has not yet announced official disciplinary consequences for its employee. Image experts emphasize that while live blunders do occur, appearing intoxicated is treated as a gross violation of professional duties. Mason, who is one of the key figures in the sports editorial team, now faces the difficult task of rebuilding viewers' trust. This incident is being compared to previous blunders by other Australian media personalities, such as Karl Stefanovic or Sarah Murdoch, although in those cases the causes of the embarrassment were usually different. „I feel immensely embarrassed and apologize to everyone I have let down. I misjudged the situation, overestimating my resistance to the cold and altitude after consuming alcohol.” — Danika Mason2026 — year of the Winter Olympics covered in the reportTimeline of the Danika Mason Incident: February 18, 07:00 — Live Broadcast; February 18, afternoon — Footage Goes Viral; February 19, morning — Official Apology